Steward Eco - Web3 Climate: Why 'Real' Art Lives on the Blockchain

Blockchain’s relationship with art has been a tumultuous one of shadow, hype, credit, greed, cash. Visually, NFTs have always been a bit tragic, almost actively tawdry, we remember PFP’s of monkeys, punks that look like minecraft, Vee doodles, redacted forms built to aesthetically mock us with their apparent lack of “craft”.

No wonder artists have a hard time seeing the importance of blockchain to the future of their discipline. So, it’s hard to see the potential of its power to elevate and empower their vision through their technical ability.

Welcome to STEWARD

At STEWARD, they focus on mission above all else, and the mission is focused on the planet, NGO partners, and artists. They work with 8 amazing artists from around the world, chosen for their stories and their connection to the ecosystem they represented.

Harnessing the infinite potential of technology within reach to open new avenues for art to live, grow and reimagine, beyond what even they thought possible when they began sketching and visualizing a year ago.

What if a painted scene could live represent the weather patterns of that coordinate? What if the rarity was related to our connection to the species that inhibit the ecosystem depicted, celebrating their beauty and resilience? STEWARD’s digital art craft seeks to deepen our relationship with nature.

If it’s raining in the forest, at that precise moment it should be raining on digital art too, right? After the hottest summer in history, digital artifacts should help connect with those realities and themes, make them tangible and visceral.

STEWARD’s digital art embodies the potential of Web3 to open up new realms of imagination and autonomy for artists, and his collection is a celebration of that potential.

The STEWARD artists

Chaparral artist, Maryam

Tundra artist, Reza

Grasslands artist, Lena

The STEWARD artists

What is so special about STEWARD artwork?

They have obtained the coordinates of each ecosystem and integrated them into the code of each digital artwork, which means that the digital art will be able to reflect the real-time climate of the chosen ecosystem.

Their artists have created four different stages of plant growth, which will grow within the digital artwork, changing with each season. The artwork will continue to change until it becomes an adult plant (see below).

It should be noted that Steward is the first of its kind on the Celo blockchain (soon to be integrated into Ethereum).

Interested in learning more about dynamic ReFi NFTs?
Join @sophfei & Maria Li (@StewardEco) hosted by @pumpernikhil for a Twitter Space on the launch of Steward and learn more about how they are bridging the natural and digital world.
Set a reminder ⬇️ https://t.co/hTV35swlRH pic.twitter.com/dHI7qQEuZD
— Celo 🦇 🌳 (@Celo) August 15, 2023

The rhythm of the dynamic elements of her collection reflects the seasons and encourages holding on to the artwork, investing love and time into it, a direct counterpoint to the greedy behavior of the cryptobroker era.

Like nature, this takes time and is worth it.

It is important to know how things work today

Today, the digital landscape is at odds with nature:

As of September 2021, the total market capitalization of cryptocurrencies hovered around USD 2.5 trillion
Meta has spent $36 billion trying to build the metaverse
Investors are paying millions for virtual land in the metaverse

Meanwhile:

According to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, all climate solutions exist, they just need 10 times more funding (source)
U.N. climate scientists believe they can stop climate change with $300 billion (source)

The reality of the climate finance gap:

Less than 2% of global philanthropy goes to climate (source)

Climate is the least funded charitable cause, despite being seen as the biggest threat.

There is a massive financial and emotional disconnect as the natural and digital worlds compete for survival.

At STEWARD they believe that without a thriving natural world, there is no digital world.

The speed at which technology is advancing is changing rapidly and the most vulnerable communities and already fragile ecosystems are being left behind.

STEWARD exists to change that, to ensure the protection of the natural world through the digital world as they expand into the web3.

They are closing the climate finance gap and transferring capital from the digital world to the natural world using Onchain technology, introducing the largest revenue sharing to date with 40% going to our climate nonprofit partners.

At the same time, they believe in an emotional connection to ecosystems through their digital art, which evolves based on real-time weather patterns.

Phones are often consulted 344 times a day, and the desktop or wallpaper is an image of a natural landscape.

It is admired through technology, but not protected, and these idyllic images give a false idea of the state of ecosystems, currently threatened by the climate crisis.

Now imagine having in the palm of your hands’ digital art that helps fight the climate crisis and evolves based on weather patterns, while bringing you emotionally closer to nature.

All based on a carbon negative blockchain, Zeal.

Imagine having in the palm of your hands #digitalart that helps combat the #climatecrisis, evolves based on weather patterns, while bringing you emotionally closer to nature— THIS is STEWARD 🌱 all built on a carbon-negative #blockchain ofc @CeloOrg pic.twitter.com/CyUPqLkQmX
— STEWARD | MINT WAVE 2: LIVE NOW (@StewardEco) March 16, 2023

STEWARD is more than digital art: it is an extension of the values that lead to web3, leaving neither people nor planet behind.

Why join Steward: People and planet first?

They invite you to join their fastest growing community of climate optimists in the web3 space.

This week’s spotlight: The STEWARD community.

Internationally recognized climate journalist. Nike creative director turned agency founder. The social media genius behind the Royal Family. Asian tech and startup powerhouses.

These are just a few of the amazing people you’ll meet when you join the Steward community.

steward team

STEWARD’s mission

The mission at STEWARD is to bridge the natural and digital worlds. To do this, they are building a global community made up of some of the brightest and most passionate people in the climate and web3 space.

Community members have access to their worldwide network, closed-door sharing sessions, online forums, special perks from partners such as Cocokind and Blueland, and invitation-only events.

Be part of their community:

Climate Optimists: you’ll meet like-minded people who believe a better future can be built. Instead of sitting on pessimism, we take action – big or small – to help meet the climate challenge.

They believe in the power of technology, community and themselves to help protect the planet.

Powerhouses: Although they all have different backgrounds, one thing STEWARD members have in common is that they work at the top of their fields. Connect with powerhouses from diverse industries and sectors who are actively shaping the future.

Not your typical crypto-amateur: They have nothing against them, but STEWARD was founded with the mission to bring a diverse and representative group of individuals to the web3 space.

They are women, BIPOC, LGBTQ, allies and more, ensuring that the next phase of technological advancement is more inclusive and representative of all voices in society.

Global stewards: With its three co-founders split between New York, London and Singapore, STEWARD has been global from the start.

They are building a locally-minded international community that allows you to meet other local members and have a friend or host anywhere in the world.